Mental Health Virginia strongly supports improving the process for students with a disability to receive the support they are entitled to when navigating the higher education experience. We hear complaints from state university faculty that they have no information that a student in their class has an IEP, and the student is not aware of the process and what rights and services they are entitled to. This is important to ensure every young person has the tools they need to succeed.

My is Andrew K. Stith from Hampton, Virginia. I am here to speak on my personal story or summary on how an unknown, never tested, never let my mother know about that all learning difficulties that I had found in my Jr. year in college while following me in the military to present day life. With hard work, failing courses, taking harsh criticism and people told me that I would not be anything as well make it in college, I completed schools and never quit, drop out of school, went to jail, and still striving to be better day by day. Also, I would like to have some bill to law to give and make sure that all birth medical records and school records should be given to all parents and guardians to pass down to each child and the State of Virginia should have a depository these records for the individual have a chance to to obtain until death. The reason that I am proposing this because the individual should not have go through a treasure hunt to get answers for each individuals owns health, family historical reasons and the hospital and/or the establishment is no long there. I plan writing a story, would like to work with city, state and federal governments and importantly, I would the State of Virginia to work hard and quickly to pass the TBI Bill (Traumatic Brain Injuries) for people who suffer on a daily basis. This covers past, present and future military servicemembers, born and had birth defects, accidents, athletes, and other reasons that has not been stated here. Thank you, Andrew K. Stith

Please Vote YES for HB1805 which would improve transition from High School to Higher Education for students with an IEP. This transition is difficult and students often experience significant variation in the quality and detail of IEP transition plans. This proposal of standardization can reduce disparities, ensuring all students receive equitable preparation for their next steps in life. Please vote Yes for HB1805.